Drum and cymbal beating device



Jan. 8, 1952 2 SHEETS- SHEET l Filed Jan. 6, 1950 INVENTOR vA?. CHE/SWAN,

,n/mm ATTORNEYS Jan- 8, 1952 o. R. CHRISTIAN 2,581,515

Y DRUM AND CYMBAL BEATING DEVICE Filed Jan. 6, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR 077-0 e. CHe/sT/A/v,

Patented Jan. 8, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE DRUM AND CYMBAL BEATING DEVICE otto n. christian, Kansas city, Mo.

Application January 6, 1950, Serial No. 137,185

s Claims. 1

My invention relates to a drum and cymbal beating device.

The primary object of the invention is to provide drum and cymbal beating mechanism, the use of which enables the drummer to beat the bass drum much more rapidly than is possible with conventional beating devices.

A further object is to provide a drum and cymbal beating device of the above-mentioned character which will reduce to a minimum tiring and fatigue in the legs of the drummer, since the drummer uses both feet simultaneously, and alternates on two beater pedals to produce drum beats on fast passages of music instead of using one foot and one pedal, which is usual with most conventional drum beating devices.

A further important object is to provide drum and cymbal beating mechanism so designed that the drummer need not depart from the accustomed style of bass drum and cymbal pedal work.

A further object is to provide bass drum and cymbal beating mechanism including separate interconnected pedals which the drummer can manipulate with his feet to execute fast and intricate combinations of beats, licks and accents which are impossible with single beater pedals.

A further object is to provide a drum and cymbal beating device of the above-mentioned character with which the drummer can beat eight to the bar on modern, lively dance music, when called upon to do so.

A further object is to provide a drum beating device with which the drummer may execute four strong and even down beats per measure of music, and in perfect rhythm in the fastest, modern dance music.

A still further object is to provide drumand Y cymbal beating mechanism of the above-mentioned character which is highly simplified, compact, sturdy and durable and relatively cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front, side elevation of a base drum and crash cymbals having my beating mechanism applied thereto; y

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the, same, as viewed from the right-hand end of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, Verticalv section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 Figure 4 is a similar section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1.

In the drawings, where, for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral I0 designates a conventional bass drum of the type used by drummers in dance orchestras and the like. I I designates generally a set of crash cymbals including an upper, vertically reciprocatory cymbal I2, fixedly secured to an elongated, vertically reciprocatory rod I3 by any conventional means. The rod I3 engages slidably within an elongated, vertical standard or tube I4 mounted upon a suitable tripod stand I5, or the like. The tube or standard I4 is externally screw-threaded at its top end, as shown at I6, and an adjusting nut I1 is provided upon the upper end of the tube. A second or lower crash cymbal I8 is arranged below the upper cymbal I2 and has a central opening slidably receiving the rod I3 therethrough. A felt washer I9 is arranged between the bottom of the cymbal I8 and nut I'I, and likewise has an opening slidably receiving the rod I3. During the operation of the cymbals, the lower cymbal I8 is relatively stationary with respect to the upper cymbal I2 which reciprocates vertically, as previously stated. The cymbal I8 may be adjusted vertically by means of the nut I'I to properly coordinate the beat of the crash cymbals with that of the bass drum.

Arranged adjacent to the bottom of the drum I0 at the forward side of the same is a generally flat base plate 20 having a, pair of upstanding, vertical posts 2| rigidly secured thereto adjacent to its opposite side edges, as shown. The posts 2 I are provided near their tops with aligned openings receiving a horizontal shaft or bolt 22, upon which are rotatably mounted separate, spaced, elongated holders or sleeves 23 and 24, including upstanding, integral, tubular extensions 25 which are normally inclined forwardly or away from the forward side ofthe drum. The posts 2 I, shaft or bolt 22 and associated elements are spaced forwardly of the forward side of the drum, as shown. A fiat, horizontal clamp plate 26 is provided and disposed above the base plate 20 and between the posts 2|. This clamp plate 26 extends for substantially the entire width of the base plate 2U. Figure 3, and is pivotally mounted between its ends upon spaced, upstanding lugs 2l which are arranged adjacent to vand between the posts 2|. The forward or inner end of the clamp plate 26 engages above the forward, annular rim 28 of the drum, and the rim 28 is seated within a curved recess 23 provided in the top face of the base plate 26. An adjustable clamp screw 30 has screw-threaded engagement within a screw threaded opening provided near the outer end of the clamp plate 26, and the bottom of the clamp screw 35 engages the base plate for clamping the forward or inner end of the clamp plate 26 tightly against the rim 23 which is accordingly rigidly secured or clamped between the clamp. and base plates.

A heel block or rest 3| is spaced forwardly of the base plate 26, Figure 2, and rigidly connected therewith by a horizontal, elongated extension or plate 32. A normally inclined, vertically swingable pedal or plate 33 has its lower or forward end pivotally connected, as at 34, with the heel block 3| and the pedal extends inwardly toward the drum l and above the clamp plate 26 and associated elements, as shown. The pedal 33 is disposed between the posts 2|, and the inner end of the pedal is ypivotally connected by means of a link 35 with the rear end of the lnclined, tubular extension of the sleeve 23, the

tubular extension 25 extending forwardly and rearwardly of the bolt or shaft 22, Figure 2. A shaft or rod 36 is longitudinally adjustably mounted within the tubular extension 25 of the sleeve 23, and secured in the selected adjusted position by a set screw 3l, or the like. A drum beater head or ball 38 is suitably rigidly secured to the. top end of the rod for beating the drum when the rod 36 and associated elements are swung toward they drum. The sleeve 23 isprovided adjacent to its outer end with a depending, radial extension 39, to which is connected the top end of a retractile coil spring 4l), the bottom end of which is connected with a vertical adjusting screw 4| rextending through an apertured lug 42 rigidly secured to the adjacent post 2|. An adjusting nut 43 is mounted upon the screw 4| beneath the apertured lug 42, and the tension of the spring 46 accordingly may be varied by manipulation of the nut. The spring will normally maintain the extension 39 in a depending, vertical position, Figure 2, so that the tubular extension 25 and rod 36 are normally held in ltheir forwardly inclined positions'as shown, with the pedal 33 elevated. By manipulation of the pedal 33 with one foot, the beater head or ball 38 may be swung into contact with the forward side of the drum for beating the drum.

The tubular extension 25 ci the sleeve 26 has a rod 413 identical with the rod 33 longitudinally adjustably mounted within it, and the sleeve j211 is provided nea-r its longitudinal center and latere ally inwardly of the left-hand post 2|, Figure 1, with a depending, radial extension or lug 45. The top end of a retractile coil spring t5 similar to the spring ll is connected with the lug 45, and the bottom end of this spring is connected with an adjusting screw di' engaging through an opening in a lug- -t rigidly secured to the inner side of the adjacent post 2|. A nut 49 is mounted upon the screw 4l below the lug 48, and the tension in the spring d6 may be adjusted by manipulating the nut. The spring lltnornially holds the extension vor lug l5 in the depending or vertical position, so that the tubular extension 25 of the sleeve 23 and the rod #lll are maintained normally inu clned and parallel to the rod 36' and associated elements. A drum beating ball or head 56 'is suitably flxedly secured to the top end of the rod 44, and the ball is spaced laterally from the ball 38 and arranged at the same 4elevation as the,A

lil

lli

ball 33. The balls 38 and 50 are disposed the same distance forwardly of the drum lll, the rods 36 and 44 being of the same length, and since the rods 36 and 44 are mounted upon the same shaft 22, the heads or balls 38 and 55 have the same length of travel or stroke before contacting the forward side of the drum for beating the drum. It is to be understood that the pedal 33 operates the beating head or ball 38 only, and the pedal 33 is not connected with the head or ball 5U.

A fiat, horizontal support plate or holder 5| is freely pivctally mounted upon the left-hand post 2|, Figure 1,`s`o that it may swing horizontally to any desired angle with respect to the base plate 20. The support plate 5| must be freely adjustable or swingable about the post 2|, since all drummers do not position the cymbal stand in precisely the same location relative to the forward side of the drum. The support plate or holder 5| Acannot shift-upwardly upon the post 2| with which it is connected, because the diameter of the post above the supportk plate is larger than the opening through the support plate. The support plate or holderl 5|' extends laterally outwardly and beyond the adjacent post 2| and is spacedabove the base plate 20, as shown. The support plate 5| is provided with a longitudinal slot within which is rotatably mounted a pulley 52, beneath Awhich is trained a flexible belt or cable 53 having one end portion 54 extending vertically upwardly adjacent to the outer side of the left-hand post 2| and connected by means of a link or ring 55 with a depending, apertured extension orlug 56 integrally secured to the outer end of the sleeve 2|!4 A iiat, horizontal support plate '5l is verti-1 cally adjustably mounted upon the tube or stand# ard l5 of the crash cymbals and is clamped in the selected adjusted position by means of a set screw 58. The support plate 51 is disposed near and above the bottom end of the tube I4 and adjacent to the top of the tripod stand |5. The support plate 51 extends laterally inwardly of thetube I4 and toward the drum i6 which is spaced from the crash cymbals, as shown in Fig-f ure l. The support plate 51 is provided near its' inner end with a longitudinal slot within which is pivotally mounted, as at 59, an elongated, ver# tically swingable arm or bar 60 having a pulley 5| rotatably mounted on its top end. The arm is equipped with a forwardly projecting entenl sion or handle 62 rigidly secured thereto, and this handle is used for swinging the arm 6.0 from its' operative position shown in full lines in Figure vlto itsinoperative position shown in dotted lines; The belt or cable 53 extends between the pulleys 52 and 6|, as shown, and is trained over the pulley 6l which is arranged at an elevation above pulley 52. The belt or cable 53, after being trained over pulley 6|, terminates in a depending, vertically extending portion E3 having a ring or eye 64 secured to its bottom end and connected with a ring or link 65, in turn pivotally connected with- 7 in an opening formed in a head or plate 66 of a thumb vscrew 61. This thumb screw projects through an elongated, vertical slot 68 formed in the forward side of the vertical tube I4 near the bottom of the tube, and engages in a transverser screw-threaded opening 69 formed in the rod I3 near the bottom of the same. The bottom of the rod lI3 is seated upon a compressible coil spring 7.0 mounted lwithin the bottom of the tube |4 and serving to 'bias the rod |3 and upper cymbal I2 upwardly and outpf contact with cymbal |8. The

spring normally maintains -thethumb screw Thewhead or lplate 86- extends below the shank ofV the thumb screw 61 andis pivotally connected, as at 1I, with the forward, upper end of a crash cymbaljoperating pedal 72 disposed adjacent to the bottom of the tube I i and extending forwardly thereof. The outer and bottom end of the pedal 'I2 is pivotally connected, as at 73, with a` pedal base plate or support 'I4 mounted upon the floor or the like. The pedal 'I2 is maintained normally inclined upwardly or elevated by the spring 10, and when the pedal 'I2 is depressed by the foot of the drummer, the upper cymbal I2 is shifted downwardly against the lower cymbal I8 of the crash cymbals. The pedal 12 is operated independently of the pedal 33, and one foot operates one of the pedals, while the other foot operates the other pedal.. The pedals 33 and i2 are spaced apart a proper distancesothat the drummer may conveniently and comfortably operate both pedals simultaneously with his feet, also the spacingis for the purpose of allowing room between the drummers knees for the snare drum. It is now evident that when the pedal 12 is manipulated with one `foot, both' the crash cymbals and the left-handdrum beating head or ball will be operated simultaneously byvirtue of the connection through the cable '53 and associated elements. By proper adjustment of the nut Il,

the ball' 5.0 can be made tofbeatthe drum at precisely the same time that1 the crash cymbals I2 and I8 engage, also nut' ITI can be' used to lower cymbal i8 to a position, soA that when pedal "I2 is depressed, cymbals i2 and i 8 will not crash, .-5

but beater ball 53 will strike the bass drum.

Means are provided for positively connecting the crash cymbal and drum assemblies. Such means comprises an elongated, inclined bar I5 having one end pivotally secured within a slot I6 formed in the inner end of the support plate 5'I, Figure 5. The opposite end of the bar I5 is pivotally secured within a slot formed in the inner end of the support plate 5I by means of a pin TI, or the like. The bar 'I5 thus serves to prevent relative movement of the drum and crash cymbals when the same are assembled together for use. The bar 15 may be formed in two telescoping sections, and the inner section is longitudinally adjustable within the outer section of the bar, and securely clamped in the selected adjusted position by a thumb screw 'I6' or the like. In this manner, the distance between the pedals 33- and 'I2 may be varied.

A block or holder I8 is adjustably mounted upon the bar 'I5 between the ends of the bar and near the left-hand side of the drum, Figure l, and this block 'I8 is held in place by a set screw 88. A generally horizontal L-shaped rod 'I3 has one end adjustably mounted within an opening formed in the block 18, and the other end of the L-shaped rod 'I9 is adjustably mounted within an opening in a block or head 8I, disposed near the periphery of the drum and adjacent to the forward face thereof. The block or head 8l is held in place upon the L-shaped rod 'I9 by means of a. suitable set screw 83. An inclined, radially disposed arm or plate 82 is integrally connected with the head 8| and extends adjacent to the forward, annular rim 28 of the drum, as shown. A pair of clamp plates 84 are mounted upon the arm 82, and the innermost clamp plate 84 is radially adjustable with respect to the rim 28 of the drum and may be locked in the selected adjusted position by meansof la thumbscrew or the like. The rim 28 of the drum-is thus securely clamped between the .plates 84, so that the drum will not tend to pivot about its bottom end while being beat. By. virtue of the bar 'I5 and associated elements, the :drum and crash cymbal assemblies are detachably secured together as a unit.

In use, the drummer is seated forwardly of the drum and crash cymbal and places his feet upon the pedals 33 and 12. The pedals are spaced apart suiciently so that the drummers feet are in comfortable .positions at all times. With the arms 68 carrying the pulley 6I swung to the left, Figure 1, and thus arranged in the operative position, the drummer may manipulate the pedal 12 for simultaneously crashing the cymbals I 2 and I8 and beating the drum with the head or ball 58. While doing this, the drummer may operate the other pedal 33 with his other foot for simultaneously beating the drum with the ball or head 38. It is thus evident that the number of times that the drum I0 may be struck or beat is twice as great as is possible with con--` ventional drum beating mechanisms, wherein one pedal and one drum beating'head are provided. By manipulating both of the pedals 33 and 'I2 with both feet, the drum III may be struck or beat very rapidly without tiring or fatiguing the leg and foot of the drummer.

. With the construction provided, modern type music. having a very fast tempo may be very readily accompanied by the drummer without additional exertion.. i

When it is' desired to operate the crash cymbals and the drum beating head 38 only, the handle 62 is grasped for swinging the arm 88 to the right, Figure 1, into the inoperative position shown dotted. In such inoperative position, the belt or cable 53 is slackened, as shown. and the crash cymbals may be operated by the pedal 12 without actuating the drum beating head 50. The arm will remain in the operative position, shown in solid lines in 4Figure 1, until removed therefrom, since the arm is past dead center with respect to the pivot 59, and the tension of the cable or belt 53 will hold the arm in the operative position.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes. in shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A drum and crash cymbal beating device, comprising a support plate disposed adjacent to the drum and connected with the drum, upstanding spaced posts mounted upon the support plate and spaced from the drum, a substantially horizontal shaft mounted upon the upstanding posts, a rst drum beating head pivotally mounted upon the shaft, a foot pedal pivotally mounted upon the support plate and connected with the rst drum beating head for actuating the same, a second drum beating head pivotally mounted upon the shaft, a pulley connected with the support plate, a second foot pedal connected with the cymbal for actuating the same, a second pulley connected with the cymbal and spaced from the second pedal, and a Ilexible element extending between said drum and said cymbal and trained over the first and second pulleys and having its opposite ends connected with the second drum beating head '3 and second foot pedal so that'the cymbal vand second drum beating head maybe actuated together independently of the rst drum beating head.

2. In combination, a drum, a cymbal having a base adapted to rest upon a supporting surface for support independently of the drum, means extending between and connected to the drum and cymbal to prevent unwanted relative movement of the drum and cymbal, a first pedal pivoted on said cymbal for operating the same, a base plate adapted to rest upon said supporting surface andsecured to said drum, a rst drum beater head pivoted on said base plate to engage the drum, flexible means extending between and operatively connected to said rst pedal and said first beater head whereby operation of said first pedal can operate both cymbal and'said first beater head, said exible means comprising an arm pivoted on said cymbal and arranged to be swung into and between operati-ve and inoperative positions, a first pulley on said arm and displaced from the pivotal point thereof, a second pulley xed on said base plate, a flexible cable connected at one end to said rst beater head and at its opposite end to the base of the cymbal, said cable being trained over said rst and second pulleys, said arm in its operative position tensioning said cable whereby said iirst pedal and said rst beater head are effectively connected for operation together, said arm in its inoperative position serving to slacken said cable whereby operation of said rst pedal is eiec'tive to operate the cymbal but inei'ective to operate said rst beater head.

3. In combination, a drum, a cymbal having a base adapted to rest upon a supportingv surface for support independently of the drum, means extending between and connected to the drum and cymbal to prevent unwanted relative movement of the drum and cymbal, a first pedal pivoted on said cymbal for operating the same, a base plate adapted to rest upon said supporting surface and secured to said drum, a first drum beater head pivoted on said base plate to engage the drum, flexible means extending between and operatively connected to said rst pedal and said rst beater head whereby operation of said lrst pedal can operate both said cymbal and said rst beater head, said base plate having a second beater head pivoted thereon to engage the drum and a second pedal thereon operatively connected to the second beater head whereby said second beater can be operated independently of said first beater head and said cymbal or can be operated simultaneously with said rst beater head and the cymbal.

y OTTO R. CHRISTIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 994,289 Unger, Jr. June 6, 1911 1,369,233 Fitzgerald et al. Feb. 22, 1921 1,501,278 Danly July 15, 1924 1,808,085 Troppe June 2, 1931 

